Chain-controlling mechanism for tufted-pile-fabric looms



1,576,892 F. W. AUSTIN CHAIN CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR TUFTED FILEFABRIC LOOMS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 3, 1925 MN N R R March 161926.

IN YEN 7'02.-

mm... 4. W Mm k.

March 16 1926. 1,576,892

F. w. AUSTIN CHAI N CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR TUFTED PILE FABRIC LOOMSFiled April 5. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 By Ms #rroezvs vi -W March 16,1926. 1,576,892

. F. W. AUSTIN CHAIN CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR TUFTED FILE FABRIC LOOMSFiled April 5,41 925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 45 IIY YEW 7 08 lEY /zASHTTQIQNEKF W March 16,1926. 1,576,892

F. W. AUSTIN 0mm: coumomme MECHANISM FOR TUFTED FILE mama LOOMS FiledApril 5, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 16 1926.

F. W. AUSTIN CHAIN CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR TUFTED FILE FABRIC LOOMS 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 5, 1925 IN VEN 7'0/3 By Ms FTTaQ/VE vs rPatented Mar. 16, 1926.

FREDERICK WILLIAM AUSTIN, OF OLDHAM, ENGLAND.

CHAIN-CONTROLLING MECHANISM: FOR TUFTED-PILE-FABRIC LCOMS.

Application filed April 3, 1925, Serial No. 20,445.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK lVILLIAM Answer, a subject of the King ofthe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and resident of 123Coppice Street, Oldham, in the county of Lancaster, England, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Chain-Controlling Mechanism forTufted- Pile-Fabric Looms,.of which the followingis a specification.

This invention of improven'ients in looms for weaving tufted pilefabrics relates to means for moving and guiding the carrying chains usedfor carrying tube frames for holding spools of yarn for forming tuftsand furnished with yarn tubes and conveying such tube frames to and fromthe places at which they are removed from the chains in order to be usedin supplying yarns to form tufts and after being so used are restored tothe chains.

This invention consists in driving and guiding mechanism for chains asaforesaid which enabling sprocket wheels within the circuit of thechains carrying tube frames to control the movement of the lower runs ofthe chains from which tube frames hang and also enabling the lower runsof the circuits of the chains to be properly supported and guided,enables tube frames to be carried and guided properly to and from theplace of use in a loom while placed in line two or more together end toend in two or more series for use in the insertion of tuft yarn betweenthe warp. threads in the formation of tufted fabrics of great width forwhich it is necessary to employ three or more chains to carry the two ormore series of tube frames placed end to end since in the case of thebutting ends of tube frames the butting ends of two tube frames must beengaged with one chain and consequently the use of sprocket wheels inengagement with the outer circuit of such a chain is im practicable. iThe driving and guiding mechanism provided according to this inventionis applicable also in connection with the movement and guidance ofchains carrying tubefraines placed'end to end in line for use with tufttransfer-ring nippers in looms and of chains used in pairs for carryingsingle tube frames of any length.

To these ends theinvention comprises as is hereinafter more fullyexplained, sprocket wheelswithin the circuits of the chainsflto beguided and driven and co-operating guides presenting curved guidechannels guiding the chainsand space for the access of the sprocketwheels to the chains and openchannels on the outer sides of the circuitsof the chains for the passage of the parts by which tube frames areconnected with thechains.

An illustrative.embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawns Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a tube frame chaindriving and guiding mechanism provided according to this invention andpart of a loom to which that mechanism is applied, the carrying chainand sprocket wheels being indicated by dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic end view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation on a larger scale than Figs. 1 and 2 of chaindriving and guiding mechanism indicated at the upper right hand part ofFig. 1.

Fig. 4 isa transverse section on the indicated by the line 4t-4: of Fig.3.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation on a larger scale than Figs. 1 and .2 of themechanism indicated at the upper left hand end of Fig. 1 by which thetube frame carrying chains are conducted to and from the place at whichtube frames are removedfrom and restored to them and parts are heldstationary for the removal. and restoration of tube frames from and tothem.

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of parts shown in Fig. 5 looking in thedirection of the arrow 6. v

The same numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in theseveral figures. In Figs. 1 and 2, 7 are the side frames of the loom theother parts of and used in the loom being almost wholly omitted from thefigures for simplicity. On each side frame 7 is a vertical extension 8to the upper part of which is secured by bolts and nuts a standard 9formed at the upper end with a flange. or facing 10. A framework ofuprightrods llsecured in socket plates12 at their lower-endsbearingonfthe floor and having socket plates 13 at their upper ends, isarranged at the rear of the loom. The framework-is braced by means ofdiagonal stays 14 connected to collars 15 held in positions ofadjustmenton the rods 11 by means o se s ews ether means a i'isdby plane andsecured to the flanges and the socket plates 13 are two girders 16 ofany suitable cross section and, advantageously as shown, formed of twochannel irons held at a little distance apart to form a. groove 17between he two channels. Struts 18 are connected to the standard 9 andto the girders 16 to stiffen the framework. The two girders 1(3 carrybearings 19 for shafts 20 having sprocket wheels 21 serving simply tosupport and guide the carrying chains 22 and also hearings 191 for ashaft 201 having fast on them sprocket wheels 211 which support andguide and also drive the chains 22. Bear ings23 are also provided on thegirders 16 to carry shafts 2 made to receive motion by means of wormwheels from worms 26 on a shaft 27 which is carried in bearings 23supported by one of the girders 16, and made to receive motion by meansof bevel wheels 29 and 30 from an appropriate shaft 31 revolving in theworking of the loom. The lower faces of the bearings 19, 191, 23 and 23have ribs 32 positioning them on the girders 1G by engaging with thegrooves 17. The shafts 24; carry sprocket wheels 33 fast upon them whichengage at both their upper and lower sides with the chains 22 to beguided and moved and each shaft 24- is provided with as many sprocketwheels 33 as there are chains to be guided. For instance in the caseillustrated three chains 22 and three sets of sprocket wheels 33 areshown.

The construction enabling each sprocket wheel 33 to engage a chain atparts spaced apart in its circuit is an advantageous means of compellingboth such parts to move concurrently. There are also three sprocketwheels on eachof the shafts 20, 20 and 201. A worm drives a worm wheel251 on the shaft 201.

Mounted on the shafts 2 1 at opposite sides of the sprocket wheels 33are bosses 36 and suspended from each boss 36 by rods 37 are guides 33presenting semi-circular or.

other curved guide channels 39 for the passage of rollers 40 provided oneach side of the carrying chains 22.

Each sprocket wheel 33 passes between the two guides with which it isused so as to engage with the chain 22 in the part guided by the guidechannels 39.

The l'UtlS 3? are secured in the bosses 36 bvnnts 371 and at their otherends are secured in forked part 372 to receive ears or lugs 331 on theguides 33 and secured thereto by rods 44- extending transversely throughthe ears 381 and secured therein by set screws or by nuts as shown inFig. 4. Tillie rods 4st. hold each series of guides 38 accu rately inrelative position laterally and links 41: connecting such rods 44 alsoserve to po sition the guides 33. The rods 14 are omitted from Figs. 1and 2 for clearness. Figs. 3 l h 91 f the p wket connected with it.

and the parts used with it but in general the description appliesequally to all the wheels 33.

The guides 38 from which the chains 22 pass to the place 42 at which thetube frames t3 are removed and restored to them are formed as shorterarcs than the other guides 38. Only a few of the tube frames 43 appliedto the chains are indicated in Fig. 3. Each tube frame d3 presents endplates adapted to be placed contiguously one against another so that thetube frames 13 can be placed continuously in line, end to end, topresent their yarn tubes in continuous lines and in the case illustratedin which there are three chains 22 made to travel in pa allel inner andouter circuits and to carry two series of tube frames d3 side by side,the tube frames 13 are connected in a series of pairs in line to'thethree chains 22, so that the inner or centre chain 22 is engaged by thecontiguous end plates in the middle of each pair while each outer chainis engaged by one end plate only of the tube frames Q3 The tube frames43 form no partof the present invention and will therefore not bedescribed in further detail.

The guides 38 in each pair are shown as formed separate and spaced apartand as presenting guide channels 39 towards one another and alsopresenting by the space between them an open channel on the outercircuit of the chain 22 with which they cooperate so that parts of theend plates for connexion with the chains may pass between the guide andalso space for the access of a sprocket wheel to such chain. T he twoguide channels of a pair may be formed however in one guide with a gapat the top to allow the teeth of the sprocket wheel 33 to enter in orderto engage with the portion of the chain 22 below them.

In the case illustrated in Fig. 1 there are four shafts 2 1 driven byworm wheels 25 and worms 26 and carrying sprocket wheels 33 co-operatingwith guides 38 so that, with the cooperation of the sprocket wheels 21shown at the right hand of Fig.1 and serving simply for guiding thechains 22, the chains 2'2 hang in four loops 4:6 but the number ofshafts 2:1; driven by worm wheels 25 and worms 26 and carrying sprocketwheels o operating with guides 33 may be made great-- er or lessaccording to the nuinl'ier of loops 4-0 which may be requisite toacconnntn ;e the length of chains 22 needed to carry the tube frames 13tobe used at any time in a 100m.

Mounted in brackets 17 secured in suit ableposition On the loom frames Tis a shaft 4-3 n'ovided with sprocket wheels 1-9 gement with the chains22 and turned step by step by mechanism in the .looin and on theshaft13, as shown most clearly in Figsh and t; are i'nounted upwardly extendraue se ia s gether to allow adjustment of length of the links 50 andsupported by or as shown integral with the upper part of the links 50are blocks 501 forming bearings for a shaft 51 provided with sprocketwheels one to engage each chain at two parts spaced. apart in thecircuit and for eo-operation with each s recket wheel there are provided at each side of the chain 22 engaging it two other curved guides53.

The guides 53 are provided with brackets 531 with square sockets to fitaround square projections on the bearing blocks 501 and are formed asshorter arcs than the other guides 38 and each being formed similarly tothe guides 38 serves to hold the chain 22 guided by it in engagementwith the co-operating sprocket wheel In Fig. 2, 54 are two of the jacksof the .loom and in Figs. 1. 2 and 5, 55 is a strut extending across theloom to hold the brackets 47 in relative position. The strut is attaehed to brackets, not shown, fixed on the brackets 47.

The intermittent turning of the shaft 1 :8 'auses parts of the chains 2to be brought successively into position for the removal of the tubeframes 13 from the chains 22 and l'leld'stationary while tuft yarn isdrawn from the tube frames 13 for the formation of tufts and while thetube frames 43 are being restored to the chains 22.

The action of the shaft 4:8 turned intermittently and at other timesheld stationary co-operating with the continuous movement of the shafts20, 24, 201 turned by the worm wheels 25 and 251 causes the guides 53and shaft 51 supported by the shaft 18 and the sprocket wheels 52thereon to swing backwards and forwards alternately about the shaft 4-8as the loops 56 of chain 22 approaching and leaving them, vary inlength.

Chains 22 are caused to pass to the guides in a slightly curved pathwith no abrupt turns and the slack of the chains 22 between the guidesand 38 and sprocket wheels 211 allows for the oscillatory movement ofthe guides 53, shaft 51 and sprocket wheels 52.

The sprocket wheels 21 mounted on the shafts 20 run freely, servingmerely to support and guide the carrying chains 22.

The sprocket wheels 33 engaging with the chains 22 in the parts guidedby the guides 38 maintain in constant length the festoons or loops 4:6of chain hanging from the guides 38 and the sprocket wheels 21 whatevermay be the length given to such festeens or loops 46 when the chains 22are being adjusted on the sprocket wheels 38, 21.

The shaft 48, sprocket wheels 19 on the intermittently turned shaft 48and the shaft 51 and the sprocket wheels 52 carried by the links 50ensure that equal lengths of the dra n 22 ll pp oach and leave the p ace42 where portions are held stationary while the movement of the sprocketwheels 52 about the shaft 48 allows for the variation in the lengths ofthe parts 55 of the chains 22 extending between the sprocket wheels 52and the sprocket wheels 211 and the nearest guide 38 enabling theintermittent moverent and stoppage of parts of the chains 22 easily tobe effected while the rest of the chains 22 is moved steadily. Thesprocket wheels 52 and guides 53 work in a similar manner if themovement of the chain 22 be reversed from time to time instead of beingmoved in one direction. only.

In carrying this invention into effect various changes may 3e made inthe details of construction.

lVhat claim is:

1. In a chain controlling mechanism for a tufted pile fabric loom.endless chains in parallel circuits, each chain provided withguide-engaging devices projecting from its opposite sides, chainguid.eswith opposed curved guide-channels in spaced opposed faces presenting bvthe inner curved walls of the guide-channels runways for the projectingengaging devices of the chains and presenting exteriorly of the chaincircuits open channels between the opposed faces and also presentingspaces interiorly of the chain circuits, sprocket wheels within thechain circuits projecting into said spaces and engaging said chains atparts engaging said guides, means of connection ensuring equalcircumferential movement of the sprocket wheels engaging differentchains, means for supporting said sprocket wheels and means forsupporting said guides.

2. In a chain controlling mechanism for a tufted pile fabric loom,endless chains in parallel circuits, each chain provided withguide-engaging devices projecting from its opposite sides, chain-guideswith opposed curved guide channels in spaced opposed faces presenting bythe inner curved walls of the guidechannels runways for the pro jectingengaging devices of the chains and presenting exteriorly of the chaincircuits open channels between the opposed faces and also presentingspaces interiorly of the chain circuits, sprocket wheels within thechain circuits projecting into said spaces and engaging said chains atparts engaging said guides, means of connection ensuring equalcircumferential movement of the sprocket wheels engaging differentchains, means for supporting said sprocket wheels, means for supportingsaid guides and means for turning said sprocket wheels.

3. In a chain controlling mechanism for a tufted pile fabric loom,endless chains in parallel circuits, each chain provided withguide-engaging devices projecting from its opposite sides, chain-guideswith opposed curved guid -channels in spaced Opp s d.

faces presenting by the inner curved walls of the guide-channels runwaysfor the pro jecting engaging devices of the chains and presentingexteriorly of the chain circults, open channels between the opposedfaces and also presenting spaces interiorly of the chain circuits, ashaft, sprocket wheels within the chain circuits and fixed upon theshaft and projecting into said spaces and engagingsaid chains at partsengaging said guides, means for supporting said shaft and means forsupporting said guides.

' l. In a chain controlling mechanism for a tufted pile fabric loom,endless chains in parallel circuits, each chain provided withguide-engaging; devices projecting from its opposite sides, chain-guidesWith opposed curved guide-channels in spaced opposed faces presenting bythe inner curved walls of the guide-channels runways for the projectingengaging devices of the chains and presenting exteriorly of the chaincircuits open channelshetween the opposed faces and also presentingspaces interiorly of the chain circuits, a shaft, sprocket wheels withinthe chain circuits and fixed upon the shaftand projecting into saidspaces and engaging said chains at parts engaging,- said guides,"

means for supporting said shaft, means for supporting said guides andmeans for turn ing said snaft.

5. In a chain controlling mechanism for a tufted pile fabric loom,endless chains in parallel circuits, each chain provided withguide-engaging devices projecting from its opposite sides, chain-guideswith opposed faces presenting by the inner curved walls of theguide'channels runways for the projecting engaging devices of the chainsand preseating exterior-1y of the chain circuits, open channels betweenthe opposed faces and also presenting spaces interior y of the chaincircuits, a shaft, means for sup 'iorting said shaft, suspending meansmounted on said shaft and connected to said chain guides, means forturning said shaft and sprocket wheels within the chain circuits andfixed upon the shaft and projecting into said spaces and engaging saidchains at parts engaging said guides.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signedmy name this twentieth. day of March, 1925.

FREDERICK lVILLIAM AUSTIN.

